Improvement in hoop-skirts



dilated i tant' ms@ l W WW, t @time hnelt? j ISAAC T. MEYER AND JAMES F. J. GUNNG, .OF NEW YORK, N. Y. Letters Patent No. 83,986, dated November l0, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOP-SKIRTS.

l The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all-whom it may concern:

e known that we, IsAno L. MEYER and JAMES F. J'. GUNING, both ofthe city, county, and State of New York,'have invented anew. and useful Improvement in Hoop-Skirts, of which the following is a full, clear, andY exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specific-ation, and in whichy Figure 1 represents a side view of a hoop-skirt constructed or provided with a bustle and trail, in accordance with our improvement 5 Figure 2, a vertical section ofthe same;

Figure v3, a sectional top View, taken immediately above the lower hoop to the skirt, and lower spring to the tra-il and Figure 4, a similar View of a single upper hoop, or hoop in part, to the skirt, and lower spring to the bustle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Our invention consists- First, in a combination, with a hoop-skirt, ofen adjustable bustle so attached, at the ends of the springs which compose it, to the skirt, and otherwise so conneoted to the band of the skirt by straps in the rear of it, as that the bustle may be raised or lowered at pleasure, to give more or less fullness or prominence to the portion ofthe dress covering it.

Secondly, the invention consists in a con1bination,with

lthe skirt, of a spring-trail, so hung or attached, at the ends of its springs, to the hoops of the skirt, as that said trail may be swung up out of the way, and thus the lower portion-ot' the skirt be made to sit or project as if not provided with a trail.

In the accompandng drawing, a a represent the hoops ofthe skirt A, b b, its tapes, and c, its waistband.

B is the adjustable bustle, made up of springs d d, united byl suitable cross-tapes. These springs are hinged, pivoted, or otherwiseconnected, at their ends, in an elastic or free manner, as, for instance, at e e, to the frame of the skirt, so as to admit ofthe bustle rising and falling, and the bustle lso connected, icy-straps ff and buckles g, or other suitable adjustable fastenings, to the waistband c, at points, or in lines, lying intermediate oi' the ends of the springs d d, as, by letting out or taking in said straps, the bustle is raised or lowered to give more or less fullness or prominence to the portion of the dress covering it.

C ,is the trail, made up of springs h h., united by suitable cross-tapes, i i, which are extended in an upward direction, and united, as at 7: 7.', to the hoops ofthe skirt. These springs h. It are also hinged, pivoted, or other wise connected, at their ends, in an elastic or free Inanner, to the iframe of the skirt, as at m m, so that said trail may either be let down, as represented by black lines in the drawing, to perform its functionas a tra-il, or be raised up and thrown hack against the skirt, so

as to be ont ofthe way, as represented by red lines in iig. l. Then the'trail is in this latter position, the lower portion of the skirt sits or projects as if -it were not provided with a trail.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the hoop-skirt, of an adjustable bustle, made up of springs so hinged, pivoted, or connected at their ends to the skirt, and provided with straps uniting them to the waistband at points or in lines intermediate of the ends of the springs, as that said bustle, by letting out or taking in said straps, may be readily raised or lowered, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. VThe trail C, made up of springs hinged, pivoted, or otherwise connected, at their ends, to the skirt, in such manner as that said trail may, at pleasure, belet down, or thrown up and back out of the way, essentiall;Y as shown and described. r

vISAAC T. MEYER.

JAS. F. J. GUNIN G. Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, HENRYPALMER. 

